Laptop Docking stations :: Anyone used these?

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Following on from my discussion about wireless LAN's one of the other things I'm trying to simplify is the "front of class" machine which I've been asked to handle as a staff laptop.

Given that I'd like to reduce the workload on the wireless LAN and keep things as idiot proof as possible I'm looking at possible docking stations to handle the task.

Now because I'm looking at standard laptops rather than Dells or those with proprietary docking systems I've found this unit from Belkin:

Belkin High-Speed Docking Station

... but I'm wondering if anyone has had a play with one of these or considered them (or other docking stations) and has any relevant points of experience (positive or negative).

[mac_shinobi]

I have had a play with normal dell docking stations ( obviously it will be a new can of worms so to speak ) but we had the fun of supporting them and getting people to shutdown there laptop , disconnect the laptop from the docking station , remove the mains cord, remove there laptop battery for about 10 seconds, disconnect the mains power cord from the docking station for about 4 or 5 mins and re connect it all back up and then everything for the most part seemed to work again.

If it did not then we just did a collection upon delivery of the docking station.

This was when I was doing telephone support.

But like I said it will be different to the belkin one I am sure.

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But like I said it will be different to the belkin one I am sure.

Yeah... I may ask Novatech to let me have one for 30 days payment or return to see what peculiarities is has..

[mac_shinobi]

sounds like a plan - when I was supporting the dell docking stations I think it was due to them leaving the docking stations on constanlty without switching them off over night so may of been over heating or something to that extent which made them act weirdly and having them do the procedure above obviously helped.

Let me know what it is like if you do get one on a trial basis.

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Let me know what it is like if you do get one on a trial basis.

Will do... Luckily I have a teacher of my own at home so I can test it out on her without assisting so it can be a real test too!

[mark]

Found the Belkin one a bit flakey - VGA output is limited but works. The Docking station onboard stuff wasn't so friendly - you have to install the NIC driver to the laptop. Did work tho.

Dell docks were far nicer - we have the push down type (D6xx series) with minitor stand above. So very easy to use, even though we have one user that can't manage it - the laptop is off the desk an inch one end usually as she can't manage to push it down! You can tell a laptop that's always docked - the rubber feet on the screen get hard from the heat. Dual monitors run off them nicely too.

[plexer]

Do all of your laptops have the express card connector that that docking station requires?

Ben

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Do all of your laptops have the express card connector that that docking station requires?

We're buying in all new so that can be part of the specification.. that's the way I'm playing it... there's an earlier version available for half the price but it's two cables from what I can tell (USB & VGA)